Bad veins, Dominoes, and Diets

I coaxed my dear little friend, And (that is her name...not a conjuntion), into going to give blood with me this morning. I had given twice before, but she was a first time donor. 

And perhaps a last time donor judging by the look on her face. 

Actually everything went fine. Well, except for the fact that the Life Blood lady informed me that I had horrible veins and that she was praying about how she was going to stick the needle in my arm. Let me tell you, those are not the most comforting words to hear!

And apparently has very good veins because she drinks a lot of water.

Whatever... I still saved a baby.... PLUS I have the universal blood type!

Beat that little Miss Perfect Veins!

Later on in the evening, we all went out to eat and then back to my house to play a friendly and highly competitive game of Dominoes. It got vicious quickly. 

There are so many things going on in this photo that I decided to break it all down for you guys. I even used colored arrows to make it easier!

All four black arrows: Our cellphones. None of them are more than 6 inches away from our bodies at ALL times. You never know when you might get an important text or call!

Sky Blue Arrow: Lotion. We were all sunburned from spending a day outside in near triple-digit degree weather. Not our brightest idea. 

Purple Arrow: My empty Little Debbie Fudge Round wrapper. Goldie Locks and I have started working out. She has also started counting calories and watching what she eats. I watch what I eat as well...I watch it enter my  mouth, at least. Let's just say she is fighting a loosing battle if she is attempting to get me to count anything beside how many fudge pops I can eat in one sitting!

White Arrow: This is a butter churn (in case you were wondering). We have had this churn, and many churns like it, in my household since I was born. Don't ask me why. We don't churn butter or anything. 

Lime Green Arrow: Goldie Locks is counting and tallying up the points from the round of dominoes we just finished playing. Goldie Locks counts EVERYTHING from points, to days, to how many red M&M's are left. I promise that if you asked her, at this very moment, how many days there are till Christmas, she would know. Or at the very least she would have a wonderful amount of fun figuring it up. 

Red Arrow: I AM WINNING AT DOMINOES! See how I only have one little ole' domino left??? I did, in fact, win not only that round, but the entire game!

Here are the final scores (lowest amount of points wins):

Me: 207

And : 212

Goldie Locks: 230

Hope: 422

I love my life (and my veins!). Amen.

Grace

Grandmother

I found this picture today of my grandmother during WW2 standing next to a plane on a airbase. Its pretty cool looking, isn't it? I love vintage stuff. My grandmother and I really look alike don't we?

This is me, obviously, by the same plane that my grandmother was by in the above picture. ( I realized that said plane isn't too far from where I live)

 

Mammaw                            Me

See how much we look alike! We are even wearing similar clothing!

Grace

Swamp Ripley Believe it or Not

We were told that our neighborhood had no drainage problems.

Really?

Take a look at what happened while it rained this afternoon.

Monday, June 15th 5:34 p.m. Dogwood Trails: 

But you know what? I kind of like my neighborhood and its swamp-ish state. It opens up all sorts of opportunities. I can buy really cute, polka dotted rain boots, and a colorful umbrella, and a boat... 

Cars are so overrated, anyway. 

 I have always wanted a lake house.

Grace

P.S. Anyone have access to an ark that will hold two of each animal on earth?

Traveling Grace

Goldie Locks invited me to go on vacation with her and her family. I, of course, accepted. So that's where I have been for the past week...on vacation with Goldie Locks in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Let me say one thing before we move on. I live in the flattest part of Tennessee possible. Not that it isn't beautiful in it's own way; it is just really flat. I mean, sure, we have hills and gullies...duh...just no mountains. 

Get the picture?

Okay, let's begin:

We went horse back riding through the mountains, but that is a story for another day. Let me just say that I learned one lesson:  A horse is not a bunny rabbit.

Ripley's Aquarium. 

View from Clingman's Dome (a.ka.: highest point on mountain). 

 I love how the parking lot of Clingman's Dome looks like it is just floating around on the clouds. We really were in the clouds, though. Just not floating in them, but you probably knew that...

Laurel Falls. WARNING: ROCKS ARE SLIPPERIER ( is that a word?) THAN THEY APPEAR. PROCEED WITH CAUTION ACROSS ROCKS SO THAT YOU DO NOT SLIP AND FALL TO YOUR DEATH.

I almost did... fall to me death, that is. I recovered beautifully, though. I don't think anyone even noticed that I slipped and almost fell to my death. However, I don't know if its a good thing or bad thing that no one noticed. While I am glad that I was saved the embarrassment, I would kind of like for someone to notice if I fell to my death. 

I love everything about the mountains. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to move to some mountainous state like Montana. I may not be a little girl anymore, but I still want to live in the mountains one day, and have horse, and tons of dogs, and a lake, and a cowboy....

Therefore I am going to ask/beg one thing of you:

Is anyone living in the mountains willing to house a eighteen-year-old girl??????

She cooks and cleans!

She loves children and animals!

She doesn't mind getting dirty and working hard on you ranch/ farm/ plantation!

Anyone offers???

*crickets* Anyone listening???

Grace